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The (Charleston) Times-Courier and Mattoon Journal-Gazette report (https://bit.ly/1CoKb6S ) that eight new members are going through training now with the Coles County Emergency Management Agency. They’ll join 17 current members. Agency deputy director Jim Hilgenberg says the team will continue to grow. He says his goal is to get to the point where, if needed, the team would have 20 people available to respond.

Hilgenberg says the agency has been working to form a team for about a year.

This past weekend volunteers went through ground training - learning how to look through difficult terrain such as a snow-covered ground in the winter or a forest at night.

The team is looking for more members and can accept supplies or donations.